Marseille soap: the daily bread
To be genuine, it must be made in Marseille or its region, using a traditional process. Made from vegetable oils and soda lye, it is certified fragrance-free, preservative-free, dye-free and without processing aids. Vegetable oils and soda lye are heated in an open-air cauldron and turn into a paste, to which salt is added, to separate the soda from the soap. The dough is then cooked, washed and then dried.
What’s the point ? Marseille soap is a multi-purpose product. It is used to wash your body, clean your makeup brushes and even replace shaving foam for razor enthusiasts. Be careful, however, its high pH (9) can attack sensitive skin. Avoid using it on the face.
How to use it ? Wet it and lather it abundantly on damp skin before rinsing it off with clear water.
How to choose your own? There are a lot of counterfeits. Prefer a soap stamped Union of Marseille soap professionals.
WE love : In shavings, for homemade recipes. Marseille soap shavings with olive oil, Fer à Cheval, € 14 per 750 g bag. Authentic, cube-shaped. Marseille soap with olive oil, Marius Fabre, € 4.50 per 400 g bread.
Cold cream: the cream of the crop
This masterful preparation of the pharmacopoeia is inspired by the cerate of Galen. Mixture of beeswax, sweet almond oil and rose water, its recipe varies according to the formulators and can be enhanced with thermal water, shea butter, perfume … It provides an effect cold on application, hence its name cold cream.
What’s the point ? The cold cream has an emollient, protective and nourishing action. It helps protect the skin against external aggressions, in particular against cold and dry air, and to restore comfort and suppleness to the skin.
How to use it ? It is simply massaged on the face, body, feet or any rough areas.
How to choose your own? It all depends on your needs and desires. In case of really sensitive skin, prefer a formula with thermal water. If you are vegan, choose it without beeswax …
WE love : Vegan, based on vegetable butters. Rich Nourishing Care, Pur Eden, € 12. Collector. A mythical formula. Intense Nutrition Cold Cream Lip Balm, Avène, € 7.
Sun powder: in search of light
The very first bronzer was launched in 1984 by Guerlain. Inspired by the red sand of the Moroccan desert, Terracotta gave for the first time the illusion of tanning, without material effect, thanks to its brown pigments. Since then, women have used it all year round for a healthy glow with or without foundation.
What’s the point ? To imitate the tan obtained after two or three days of sun exposure, without the harmful effects of UV rays and without self-tanning.
How to use it ? With a large brush, simply sweep the raised areas of the face, forming a “3”, from the top of the eyebrow to the cheekbone, then from the cheekbone to the jaw.
How to choose your own? One or two tones above the complexion, predominantly pink if you have a cold complexion, and golden if you have a rather warm complexion.
WE love : Iconic, often imitated, never equaled. Terracotta Nude, Guerlain, € 49. Mini-price, maxi-effect, City Bronzer, Maybelline New York, € 12.
Micellar water: thirst for purity
Formulated with micelles, microspheric particles, this cleansing water captures dirt, pigments and impurities, like a magnet, to gently remove them. She unties them and leaves them on the cotton. Light as water, effective as a makeup remover, it is ultra-practical.
What’s the point ? To remove make-up from the face, lips and eyes, but also to rid them of pollution, excess sebum, perspiration or cream residue.
How to use it ? Soak a cotton disc with micellar water and pass it over the face using smoothing movements. Then all you have to do is rinse, always with a cotton pad.
How to choose your own? Depending on their skin type. If you are prone to excess sebum or imperfections, prefer it enriched with purifying active ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, choose it soothing.
WE love : Organic, with floral water and chamomile. Micellar Cleansing Water, Florame, € 13.90. Mythical micellar water in an oily skin version. Sébium H20 Purifying Micellar Cleansing Solution, Bioderma, € 10.90 per 500 ml bottle.
Thermal mist: a shower of benefits
Thermal water becomes nomadic and accessible to all women thanks to its packaging in a spray. This natural water recognized by the National Academy of Medicine, coming from warm or hot springs, is very old and is filled with minerals and trace elements throughout its geological course. The water is drawn from the source, then packaged in aluminum cans, most of the time only a few kilometers from the source.
What’s the point ? To refresh in the event of heatstroke, to soothe irritation, overheating, to hydrate the skin, to calm redness, to strengthen the skin’s barrier function.
How to use it ? Spray it 20 cm from the skin and dab with a paper tissue. If you use isotonic water, so the composition is close to that of sweat and tears, let dry naturally.
How to choose your own? All have moisturizing and soothing properties. But each has its specificities. That of La Roche-Posay is antioxidant, that of Uriage is isotonic and can be used on the mucous membranes.
WE love : Ideal for calming and reducing irritation. One of the rare isotonic waters, in a collector’s bottle. Thermal Spring Water for Sensitive Skin, La Roche-Posay, € 6.20. Thermal Water, Uriage, € 6.30.
Focus on dry shampoo
Designed to be able to space out shampoos without having to wash your hair, it acts as a blotter to effectively absorb excess sebum. Ideal for traveling, it quickly became a must for studio hairdressers to texturize the hair and give it volume.
Source: femmeactuelle.fr
